Contact lenses are a convenient alternative to bulky prescription eyeglasses, but some contacts are more suitable for people with sensitive eyes than others.
If you have sensitive eyes, choosing the right lens is key to a comfortable and healthy wearing experience.
In this article, we will walk you through some of the contact lens brands we believe are good for sensitive eyes.
Do You Have Sensitive Eyes?
Some people have sensitive eyes. That doesn’t necessarily mean that they’re more prone to eye infections and other eye problems, but it does mean that their eyes are more prone to discomfort and irritation when exposed to things like dust and pollen.
Sensitive eyes can be an issue for people who spend a lot of time outdoors or work in dry or dusty environments.
If you have sensitive eyes, you may find that you can’t wear contact lenses for long periods without feeling uncomfortable. That isn’t to say that contact lenses aren’t an option if you need vision correction. You just need to choose the right contact lenses for you.
Do Contact Lenses Cause Sensitive Eyes?
No, it is not the contact lens that makes your eyes sensitive. Instead, your eyes may already be sensitive, and wearing a contact lens that’s ill-suited for you causes discomfort and irritation.
Improper contact lens wear and care, like not cleaning your contact lenses regularly or wearing your contacts longer than the recommended period, can also irritate your eyes.
What Are the Best Contact Lenses for Sensitive Eyes?
Sensitive eyes shouldn’t stop you from wearing contacts. Many contact lenses today are made with materials and equipped with technologies that support a comfortable wearing experience.
Daily disposable contact lenses, for example, are an excellent option for people with sensitive eyes. Even with regular cleaning, contact lenses accumulate surface deposits, negatively impacting your eye health and wearing experience. That’s not a problem with daily disposable contact lenses because they’re thrown away at the end of the day.
Contact lenses made of silicone hydrogel are another good choice for people with sensitive eyes. The latest in a line of developments aimed at improving contact lens comfort, silicone hydrogels allow up to five times more oxygen to reach the cornea than conventional hydrogel lenses. Your eyes can feel dry and itchy without a steady flow of oxygen.
Silicone hydrogels also have low water content. Contacts with low water content dry less on the eye than lenses with high water content, so they could be better for people with sensitive eyes.
For your reference, we have listed below some of the best-selling daily disposable, silicone hydrogel, and low water content contact lens brands on Lens.com — in no particular order. Keep these in mind when discussing contacts with your eye doctor.
1. Focus® Dailies®
Focus Dailies allow you to enjoy that “new lens” feeling every day. Plus, it releases moisture with each blink for greater initial and overall comfort.
- Replacement schedule
- Daily
- Material
- Nelfilcon A
- Water content
- 69%
- Features
- Lightstream Technology
- AquaRelease™
- Lenses per box
- 90 lenses per box (3-month supply)
2. AIR OPTIX® plus HydraGlyde®
AIR OPTIX plus HydraGlyde contact lenses provide a comfortable wearing experience for people with sensitive eyes.
- Replacement schedule
- Monthly
- Material
- Lotrafilcon B
- Water content
- 33%
- Features
- SmartShield Technology
- HydraGlyde Moisture Matrix technology
- Visibility tint
- Lenses per box
- 6 lenses per box (6-month supply)
3. DAILIES® AquaComfort PLUS®
DAILIES AquaComfort PLUS by Alcon keeps eyes feeling fresh and comfortable all day with Blink-Activated Moisture technology.
- Replacement schedule
- Daily
- Material
- Nelfilcon A
- Water content
- 69%
- Features
- Blink-Activated Moisture technology
- Visibility tint
- Lenses per box
- 90 lenses per box (3-month supply)
4. Biofinity®
Biofinity contact lenses bring you a remarkable balance of comfort and breathability in a monthly disposable lens.
- Replacement schedule
- Monthly
- Material
- Comfilcon A
- Water content
- 48%
- Features
- Aquaform® Technology
- Aberration Neutralizing System™
- Smooth, rounded edges
- Visibility tint
- Lenses per box
- 6 lenses per box (6-month supply)
5. ACUVUE® OASYS with HYDRACLEAR® PLUS Technology
ACUVUE OASYS with HYDRACLEAR® PLUS Technology are bi-weekly contact lenses that keep your eyes moist and comfortable. These contacts are ideal for contact lens wearers with sensitive eyes.
- Replacement schedule
- Bi-weekly
- Material
- Senofilcon A
- Water content
- 38%
- Features
- HYDRACLEAR PLUS Technology
- UV protection
- Visibility tint and inside-out markings
- Lenses per box
- 12 or 24 lenses per box (6-month or 12-month supply)
6. Biotrue® ONEday
Biotrue ONEday contact lenses are the only daily disposable lens made from HyperGel™. These contacts also maintain nearly 100% of their moisture for 16 hours.
- Replacement schedule
- Daily
- Material
- Nesofilcon A
- Water content
- 78%
- Features
- HyperGel
- High Definition Optics
- UV protection
- Visibility tint and inside-out markings
- Lenses per box
- 90 lenses per box (3-month supply)
7. Bausch + Lomb ULTRA®
Bausch + Lomb ULTRA contact lenses provide long-lasting hydration to keep eyes feeling fresh and healthy. You can experience all-day comfort and consistently clear vision with these contact lenses, even when staring at a digital screen.
- Replacement schedule
- Monthly
- Material
- Samfilcon A
- Water content
- 46%
- Features
- MoistureSeal™ Technology
- Aspheric Optics
- Visibility tint
- Lenses per box
- 6 lenses per box (6-month supply)
8. AIR OPTIX® AQUA
AIR OPTIX AQUA contact lenses keep your eyes clear, moist, and comfortable for up to one month. A highly breathable lens, AIR OPTIX AQUA contacts allow up to five times more oxygen to reach your eyes than leading hydrogel brands.
- Replacement schedule
- Monthly
- Material
- Lotrafilcon B
- Water content
- 33%
- Features
- SmartShield® Technology
- TriComfort™ Technology
- Visibility tint
- Lenses per box
- 6 lenses per box (6-month supply)
9. 1-DAY ACUVUE® MOIST
1-DAY ACUVUE MOIST contact lenses keep moisture in and irritation out, making them a great option for people with sensitive eyes.
- Replacement schedule
- Daily
- Material
- Etafilcon A
- Water content
- 58%
- Features
- LACREON® Technology
- UV protection
- Visibility tint
- Lenses per box
- 30 or 90 lenses per box (1-month or 3-month supply)
10. PureVision®
PureVision contact lenses provide superior vision and comfort, even when spending long hours in front of a screen.
- Replacement schedule
- Monthly
- Material
- Balafilcon A
- Water content
- 36%
- Features
- AerGel material
- Enhanced optical design
- Rounded edge design
- Visibility tint
- Lenses per box
- 6 lenses per box (6-month supply)
Note: No single contact lens is best for sensitive eyes, and it is misleading to claim that there can be a best contact lens for sensitive eyes for everyone. Be aware that some websites with similar lists use affiliate links that earn a commission when readers click them. We do not use such links on Eyestyle. Instead, we give you quality information (e.g., water content, material type, and replacement schedule) to help you compare products. Only a licensed eye specialist can choose the best contact lens for you if you have sensitive eyes.
Other Important Factors That Affect Contact Lens Comfort
Aside from material, water content, and replacement schedule, other factors that can affect contact lens comfort include:
- Lens thickness – Thin lenses tend to be more flexible and comfortable than thick lenses.
- Fit – If you’re interested in wearing contact lenses, an eye exam and contact lens fitting are essential. During a fitting, your eye doctor will, among other things, measure your cornea because precise, personalized measurements are key to a comfortable fit and clear vision.
- Eye shape – Not all eyes are the same. There is incredible diversity in eye shape and related facial structures around the eyes. These anatomical and physiological differences between eyes can affect responses to contact lens wear. Your eye care professional is trained to look for these differences and modify your prescription to fit you.
- Eye health – Your eye health also plays a role in determining whether or not you can wear contact lenses comfortably. This is why you’ll need to take an eye exam to wear contact lenses for the first time. During the exam, your eye doctor will use various instruments to evaluate your vision and check for eye diseases.
Wrapping Up
Some contact lenses are more suitable for people with sensitive eyes than others, but there is no one-size-fits-all solution. Only a licensed eye specialist can determine the best contact lens for you if you have sensitive eyes, but it helps to keep yourself informed of your options. Consider the brands mentioned above when discussing options with your eye doctor.
Lens.com carries all of the contact lens brands mentioned in this article. Take advantage of our discount prices when shopping Lens.com!
